Kaso Jogi's performance of The Gate will be on at C venues from August 1 - 11.
Saori Aoki ansers our questions.
- What is your Fringe show about?
It’s about views of life and death. In particular, it inquires into Japanese people’s concepts of this world and the other world. However, it’s not so much serious philosophy as a black-comedy musical.
- How many times/years have you appeared at the Fringe?
This will be our company’s second appearance after 2017, although I (Saori Aoki) also came here once before, with the Ryuzanji Company in 2012.
- What’s your most memorable Fringe moment?
On our opening day last year, the main road to our venue was closed by police due to a small fire. We could see the venue door in front of us, but we weren’t allowed to go across the road so we rushed through the back streets carrying our props and instruments and just got there literally a minute before our starting time. Hyuuu . . .
- What’s the worst thing about the Fringe?
There’s no downside for us. We even enjoyed several accidents, such as when one of our members was stuck in a bathroom for two hours after its lock broke.
- If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
I’d like to think I’d be a swindler or a detective. That’s because I love to create tricks and also solving riddles.
- How do you prepare for a performance?
The actors are also the hands-on art staff, so we make our sets and props ourselves. As we need to be able to pack all those into our suitcases, every day we repeat by trial and error making them magically even more compact.
- Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?
I love meeting and communicating with performers of various nationalities when I’m here.
- What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve ever done?
In our meeting, we argued about the correct pronunciation of “Scone” — whether it should be a long “o” or a short “o.”
- Favourite Scottish food/drink?
I love clotted cream so much; I just want to eat it alone without scones.
Also, I love the amazingly fluorescent orange colour of Iru-Bru. We can’t get that in Japan.
- Sum up your show in three words
Discover new aspects of Japan
Incredibly visual stage
And it’s got an easy-to-hum melody tune
Show summary
A magical rollercoaster noir mystery tour through Japanese children's folklore. Acclaimed for her work in Japan, USA, Canada at the Fringe, Saori Aoki started the Kaso Jogi (Virtual Ruler) company to spread her unique physical theatre take on musicals around the world.
Be greeted by the striking original songs of Makoto Honda, and a mysterious gatekeeper welcoming 'all ye corpses' with the suspect smile of one who might be an angel, a boatman on the Styx, or an emissary from hell. Breathtaking physical dance-theatre set to original live music.
Kaso Jogi's performance of The Gate will be on at C venues from August 1 - 11. For tickets, please visit www.edfringe.com
You can follow Kaso Jogi on Twitter at @kasojogi, find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kasoujyougi/ and visit their website at http://www.kasoujyougi.com/
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